DOTI, Oct 22: Electricity and communication services which had been disrupted for the past six days due to floods and landslides have been restored since Thursday night. According to the small hydropower center, Dipayal, 33/1100 KV transmission poles near Bhasubhir in Kailali were damaged when trees fell on them due to heavy rain, obstructing electricity and communication services.

Chief of the Hydropower Station, Kumbharaj Joshi, said that the telephone and electricity services provided in the major markets, Dipayal, Pipalla, Silgadhi and the old regional headquarters Rajpur were obstructed as the electric poles were damaged due to landslides. However, after the resumption of telephone and electricity services came as a big relief during the disaster, according to Tek Bahadur Shah of Dipayal, Rajpur.

Chief District Officer Shankar Bahadur Bista said that it is very difficult to get information about the damage caused by the floods and landslides in the rural areas. Although phone and electricity services were provided in Dadeldhura, a neighboring district along with Doti, it is still not available in Achham and Bajura districts.

Surendra Bahadur Bohara of Jorayal Rural Municipality-6, Nirauli, said that the phone and 4G internet service could not be operated in the village as the battery at the repeater tower of Nepal Telecom in Jorail Rural Municipality-6, Gund, could not be charged.

According to the District Disaster Management Committee, 16 people have been killed so far due to floods and landslides. Similarly, 12 people were injured, 35 cattles died, 25 were injured and 20 were missing due to the floods. A total of 110 households, 500 citizens have been displaced and two suspension bridges have been damaged. 

An Inspector at the District Police Office, Rabindra Chand said that work was underway to gather information about the additional financial losses caused by the floods and landslides in the district. Teams of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been deployed to collect the details of the damage and rescue people as well. 

Due to the incessant rain, the paddy harvested by the farmers has been washed away by floods and landslides, while in some areas, the entire paddy fields have been inundated.